Spoolable splice connector and method for tubing encapsulated cable

Abstract

A splice connector for a spoolable tube includes a center portion having an outer diameter equal to an outer diameter of the tube. A longitudinal extension extends in each longitudinal direction outwardly from the center portion. The longitudinal extensions have a plurality of spaced apart segments having an outer diameter equal to an inner diameter of the tube and a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart crimp grooves disposed between the spaced apart segments. An inner diameter of the splice connector is selected such that when the splice connector is assembled to the tube on each longitudinal extension, the splice connector is bendable to a radius of curvature of a winch reel used to deploy the tube into a wellbore.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for retrieving an electric submersible pump (ESP) from a well where the ESP is deployed at one end of a tubing encapsulated electrical cable (TEC), comprising:
 exposing a free end of the TEC extending above a surface end of the well; 
 drilling out electrical conductors in the TEC for a longitudinal distance corresponding to a length of a first longitudinal extension of a splice connector; 
 inserting the first longitudinal extension of the splice connector into the free end of the TEC, the splice connector having a completely solid filled, impermeable cross-section wherein the splice connector is bendable so as to be spoolable onto a winch which contains a length of the TEC, the splice connector comprising a center portion having an outer diameter equal to an outer diameter of the TEC, the splice connector comprising the first longitudinal extension extending in one direction and a second longitudinal extension extending in an opposed longitudinal direction outwardly from the center portion, the first and second longitudinal extensions each comprising a plurality of spaced apart segments having an outer diameter equal to an inner diameter of the tube and a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart crimp grooves disposed between the spaced apart segments wherein a transition between the spaced apart segments and each of the crimp grooves is square; 
 crimping the TEC into the crimp grooves in the splice connector; and 
 retracting the TEC with the ESP attached thereto by withdrawing the TEC and splice connector onto the winch until the ESP is disposed above a wellhead at an upper end of the well. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  further comprising reinserting the ESP into the well to a depth enabling a selected length of the TEC to extend above the wellhead;
 securing the TEC longitudinally in the wellhead; and 
 exposing the electrical conductors in the extended TEC to make electrical connection to the ESP in the well. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein a spacer is connected between the end of the TEC and the ESP, the spacer having a length selected to adjust for a length of the TEC removed during the retrieval of the ESP from the well. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the crimping comprises making a first crimp at each crimping groove followed by a second crimp at each crimp groove rotated 90 degrees from the first crimp. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4  wherein the splice connector is formed from at least one of titanium and alloys thereof. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising closing a valve in the wellhead; and retrieving the ESP from a lubricator coupled to the wellhead. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the crimp grooves comprise an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the segments by an amount equal to a wall thickness of the TEC. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  wherein the splice connector is pre-assembled to the length of the TEC disposed on the winch.